Monday 27th February 2012 Good - try to use a research question as a title next time 1500 words. Excellent detail in your essay but try to stick to the word limit. Good introduction to the problem
Monica Santa 9.2
e Use of Xenotransplantation in Medicine A significant percentage of the deaths in the US are caused by chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and liver disease (Wilcox). Many of these individuals would potentially benefit from an organ transplant but unfortunately the demand for organs greatly outnumbers the organs available. In the US alone, over 100,000 people are in need of organ transplants and every 10 minutes, a new name is added to the list (“Donation Statistics”). In an effort to meet the demand for organs for transplantation, many different avenues are being explored. ese include the development of artificial organs, tissue engineering and one of the most controversial: xenotransplantation. Xenotransplantation is the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another
Good statement of the solution
(“Xenotransplantation²”). It is an unconventional but possible solution for the lack of organ donors as well as treatment for incurable diseases like Parkinson’s and diabetes. Currently, there has been several success stories such as transplantation of porcine heart valves (“Organ Transplantation”) and porcine pancreatic islet cells (“Islet Cell Transplantation”), however, research into xenotransplantation is still highly experimental and hotly debated. Xenotransplantation works by inserting human genes into that of a female pig. Although primates have been considered to be suitable candidates, most research in xenotransplantation focus on pigs as they breed and grow quickly, are cheaper, easier to maintain and have a similar physiology to humans ("What Animals Would Be Used in Xenotransplants?"). e pig is then given increased amounts of hormones to cause her to hyper-ovulate which results in her producing more eggs than usual. Once she mates with a male of her species, the female pig’s fallopian tubes are cut open and the fertilized eggs are suctioned out. ese eggs are then examined closely under a microscope and injected with a solution containing human DNA. Not all the eggs will inherit the genes but the ones that do are implanted in the uterus of a female pig. It is important that the egg receives the human gene A transgenic baby pig (“Transplant Rejection Treatment”)
as it will reduce the risk of rejection. Once the transgenic pig is fully grown, the needed organs or tissue will be surgically removed
and the pig put down (“How Xenotransplantation Works”). e main benefit of xenotransplantation is its potential to provide an unlimited supply of organs for Good discussion of benefis
those who need it. It is a social benefit because by genetically
Good
engineering animals for organ transplants, the waiting list would significantly be reduced and less patients would die while waiting for human organs. Xenotransplantation could even be used as a “bridge” implant so if a patient is in a life-threatening position, a xenotransplant could be performed for temporary use until a human organ becomes available (“Xenotransplantation Research Paper”). In essence, xenotransplantation would allow people to fulfill their ambitions or spend more time with their loved ones. Xenotransplants also offers an additional advantage over Doctors must rush into surgery once potential human donor organs are acquired (“Emergency Room”)
allotransplantations (human-to-human transplants). With human organs, little can be done before the donor is declared brain dead. is
means until the donor is officially dead, his organs cannot be obtained. After brain death, organs are procured in an emergency manner and are immediately transported to the medical center performing the transplant. Especially if the donor has died in an accident, the process of getting the organ ready for surgery is very rushed. Additionally, the transplant organ may come from a suboptimal donor with advanced age or has chronic medical conditions (Beschorner). ere is no time for analysis and preparation as the window for the organ to be transplanted is very short. In contrast to that, a donor pig is raised under controlled conditions, specifically for use as an organ donor. Potential pathogens can be eliminated from the herd and the donor pig is examined regularly and carefully by professionals. Organs are obtained from young, healthy donors and transplants are performed on a scheduled basis. Basically, xenotransplantation offers the tremendous advantage of donor organ modification to render the xenografts more “compatible” with human recipients pre-surgery (“Transplant Rejection Treatment”). is is a huge social benefit because patients will no longer have to wait for organs or be given subpar ones. e organs they receive will be healthier and genetically tailored to their needs. e surgeons can also be well-prepared to complete the surgery without error. is is both an ethical and social benefit because if xenotransplantation does become a reality, it will require the well-being and ethical treatment of pigs. ey will have to be raised in good, clean
conditions to make suitable donors. ese pigs will then continue to benefit society by providing us with healthy organs to save a person’s life. Another social benefit is that diabetes, a disease characterized by the lack of insulin production in the body, can also be treated by xenotransplantation. e process would involve the transplantation of pancreatic islets⎯the
Insulin-producing piglets (Macrae)
dead islets can be replaced by living islets from pigs⎯and over time, the body’s insulin levels will be restored (Grey). is is a social benefit because the surgery could change the lives of many diabetics who are emotionally and physically affected by the disease. ese people could live normal lives, without the social stigmas that is often associated with their condition. Xenotransplants can even treat diseases such as Huntington's Disease and Parkinson's Disease and even diminish the effects of strokes by transplanting porcine neuron cells into the brain (Hou). Good discussion of limitations Good
Just as there are benefits, there are limitations as well. A social limitation of xenotransplantation is the risk of rejection. Within hours after the operation, the body might use its own immune system to attack the foreign organ (Legal & Ethical Issues). e problem exists even for human to human transplants, but is more serious for transplants between different species. It is also possible that the pigs may transfer diseases and viruses that could infect the public. is affects society because if the virus is not contained, an epidemic could spread worldwide and harm thousands of innocent lives (Chapman). A financial limitation of xenotransplantation is its cost. Approximately $47 million dollars are spent on
Good
organ transplants each year and this is only for human-to-human transplants. In the US alone, the cost of a kidney transplant is around $50,000 (Schaffer). is excludes the additional $6,000 for anti-rejection medication, postsurgery check ups and other medical fees. Although the cost of xenotransplants are yet to be calculated, it is likely that they will cost more than regular transplants because of the additional costs of breeding, feeding, housing, euthanizing and eventual disposal of the animals (“Cost of Xenotransplants”). is also brings us to an ethical disadvantage of xenotransplantation. Depending on the technique or
Good
process used to create transgenic pigs (i.e. cloning or inserting a gene into a sow), the number of piglets born with the human gene may be quite low. is will result in surplus piglets that are not useful as donors for xenotransplants. ese animals will be euthanized and cannot be released into the environment nor introduced
into the food chain because they have been genetically modified (“Ethical and Social Issues Raised By Xenotransplantation”). Because of this, many people disagree with xenotransplantation because they believe it is cruel and unethical to raise pigs for eventual slaughter. Even with pigs currently be farmed for food, animal rights activists believe that pigs should be raised to be free, not tested on or served as a spare parts factory to humans (“Xenotransplantion¹”). ere are also cultural and spiritual limitations as some people believe that xenotransplantation is an unacceptable violation of the integrity of the human body and would be interfering with the creations of God (“Religion & Xenotransplantaion”). In conclusion, xenotransplantation has its ups and downs. e main benefit is its potential to supply the Good conclusion summarising the key points and then looking towards the future
world with unlimited organs and thus save the lives of many people who are on the transplant list. A social benefit is its potential to cure incurable diseases like Parkinson’s and diabetes. By providing solutions for these problems, xenotransplantation is already taking a major step in eradicating many medical issues our world currently faces. However, one of the biggest limitations that has prevented xenotransplantation from continuing is the risk of rejection. e point of xenotransplantation is to provide organs but the entire point would be missed if the problem of rejection is ignored. Also, the price of the transplant would be very high and this would raise health costs. ere are also cultural barriers that believe the transplanting of animal organs to humans is ethically wrong and interferes with nature. Like so many advances in the world of medicine, if successful, xenotransplantation has the potential to save and extend countless of lives. However there are many risks involved and there are questions on whether or not medicine is prepared to make such potentialities a reality. Until today, xenotransplantation is still an extremely experimental process but I believe that with time and research, xenotransplantation may very well be a viable option to provide life-saving organs to those who need it.
Works Cited Excellent detail
Beschorner, William Edward. "Xenotransplantation in Pediatics." Medscape. 14 Jan. 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1014080-overview>.
Chapman, Paul. "New Zealand to Transplant Pig Cells into Humans Against Diabetes." Diabetes.org. 21 Oct. 2008. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.diabetes.org.nz/news/nz_news/ new_zealand_to_transplant_pig_cells_into_humans_against_diabetes>.
"Cost of Xenotransplants." Xenotransplantation. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://xenotrans.tripod.com/ id14.html>.
Cozzi, Emmanuel, Erica Bosia, Michela Seveso, Domenico Rubello, and Ermmano Ancona. "Xenotransplantion as a Model of Integrated Multidisciplinary Research." Organogenesis. PubMed Central, Feb. 2009. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2659370/>.
"Donation Statistics." Donate Life. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.donatelife.net/understandingdonation/statistics/>.
"Emergency Department." UCLA Health. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.uclahealth.org/body_med.cfm? id=1064>.
"Ethical and Social Issues Raised by Xenotransplantation." Canadian Public Health Association. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.cpha.ca/en/activities/xeno/ethics-1.aspx>.
Grey, Shane T. "Genetic Engineering & Xenotransplantation." Action Bioscience. May 2000. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/grey.html>.
Hou, Larry, Irene Klein, Billy Lau, Vanessa Rothholtz, and Yvette Wild. "Neural Xenotransplantation and Parkinson's Disease." Division of Biology and Medicine. Brown University, May 1999. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http:// biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_1999_Groups/Neurotransplant_Team/Neurotransplant.html>.
"How Xenotransplantation Works." Xenotransplantation. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http:// xenotrans.tripod.com/id1.html>.
"Legal & Ethical Issues." Xenome Project. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.xenome.eu/ literature_background_information.aspx>.
“Islet Cell Transplantation.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islet_Cell_Transplantation>.
Macrae, Fiona, and Claire Bates. "Experimental Diabetes Treatment Will Inject Humans With Pig Cells." Daily Mail. 24 July 2009. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1201672/ Experimental-diabetes-treatment-inject-humans-pig-cells.html>.
“Organ Transplantation.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_Transplantation>.
"Religion & Xenotransplantation." Canadian Public Health Association. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http:// www.cpha.ca/en/activities/xeno/religion.aspx>.
Schaffer, Michael. "How Much Does a Kidney Transplant Cost?" Kidney in the News. 20 Dec. 2007. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://kidneyinthenews.wordpress.com/2007/12/20/how-much-does-a-kidney-transplant-cost/>.
"Transplant Rejection Treatment." Division of Biology and Medicine. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http:// biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2004_Groups/Group04/Xenotransplantation.htm>.
"What Animals Would Be Used in Xenotransplants?" Xenome Project. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http:// www.xenome.eu/faq.aspx?pregunta=6>.
Wilcox, Sara. "Xenotransplantation: e Good, e Bad and e Ugly." 1.01 (2003). University of British Columbia, Apr. 2003. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.bioteach.ubc.ca/Journal/ V01I01/4952xenotransplant.pdf>.
"Xenotransplantation¹." Uncaged. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://www.uncaged.co.uk/xeno.htm>.
"Xenotransplantation²." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Xenotransplantation>.
"Xenotransplantation Research Paper." Effective Papers. 17 Nov. 2010. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. <http:// effectivepapers.blogspot.com/2010/11/xenotransplantation-research-paper.html>.
Criterion A: One World Student’s Teacher’s Opinion Decision 0
1–2
3–4
MYP Descriptor ● e student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below. ● e student states* how science is applied to addressing a specific local or global issue. ● e student states* the effectiveness of science and its application in solving the problem or issue.
● e student describes** how science is applied and how it may be used to address a specific problem or issue in a local or global context. ● e student describes** the effectiveness of science and its application in solving the problem or issue. ● e student describes** the implications of the use and application of science interacting with at least one of the following factors: moral, ethical, social, economic, political, cultural and environmental.
Student Self-Assessment ●
○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○
My work does not match requirements below. *State means I give a specific name or other brief answer without explanation. I clearly name the issue that science is used to address I name the science that is used for the issue I list the benefits and limitations with this use of science to solve the issue. **Describe means I give a detailed account I point out details of the issue that science is used to address I detail how science is used for the issue I detail the benefits and limitations with this use of science to solve the issue. While discussing the benefits and limitations, I describe in detail how the use of science interacts with at least two factors from: moral, ethical, social, economic, political, cultural and environmental.
5–6
6
● e student explains+ how science is applied and how it may be used to address a specific problem or issue in a local or global context. ● e student discusses++ the effectiveness of science and its application in solving the problem or issue. ● e student discusses++ and evaluates! the implications of the use and applications of science interacting with at least two of the following factors: moral, ethical, social, economic, political, cultural and environmental.
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+ Explain means I give a clear account of what the problem is that science is solving and how the science works to bring a solution to the problem, including causes and reasons or mechanisms ++ Discuss means I give an account including where possible, a range of arguments for and against the relative importance of various factors and comparisons of alternative hypotheses !Evaluate means I assess (rate the importance of) the implications and limitations. I explain how science is used to address a specific problem or issue I discuss and evaluate the benefits and limitations of this use of science. I describe in detail how the use of science interacts with at least two factors from: moral, ethical, social, economic, political, cultural and environmental.
Criterion B: Communication in Science Student’s Teacher’s Opinion Decision 0
1–2
3–4
5–6
6
SWA MYP Descriptor ● e student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below. ● e student uses a limited range of scientific language correctly. ● e student communicates scientific information with limited effectiveness ● When appropriate to the task, the student makes little attempt to document sources of information. ● e student uses some scientific language correctly. ● e student communicates scientific information with some effectiveness. ● When appropriate to the task, the student partially documents sources of information. ● e student uses sufficient scientific language correctly. ● e student communicates scientific information effectively. ● When appropriate to the task the student fully documents the sources of information correctly.
Student Self-Assessment ● My work does not match requirements below.
● I used some scientific language. ● For most sections of the lab report I followed most of the requirements listed on the sheet called ‘How to Write a Science Essay’. ● I give some info for some of my sources.
● I used only scientific language. ● For each section of the lab report I followed most of the requirements listed on the sheet called ‘How to Write a Science Essay’. ● Source information is missing, incorrect, or not well organized making it hard for the reader to trace my sources. ● I used clear, concise scientific language. ● My essay has an introductory paragraph, a paragraph to describe the application of science, and paragraphs to describe the benefits and limitations of the application of science and its interaction with the ‘One World’ factors. ● Appropriate visuals and/or symbols are included to make the communication effective. ● I correctly cite my sources of information using parentheses ( ) within the text and with a Works Cited list.
Reflection – Why I got what I got on my assignment! Fill in this table after your assignment has been graded and returned. I did read the criteria assessment sheet before I handed in my work
YES
My score for criterion A was 6 out of a possible 6 Two things I did well were: 1. I described of the use and application of science interacting with at least one of the following factors: moral, ethical, social, economic, political, cultural and environmental in great detail. 2. I explained how the science is applied and how it may be used to address a specific problem or issue in a local or global context.
I will make following two improvements for next time: 1. Keep the audience in my (grade 9s). 2. Keep up my grade! My score for criterion B was 6 out of a possible 6 Two things I did well were: 1. I used pictures and diagrams. 2. I cited all my sources correctly. I will make following two improvements for next time: 1. I need to make a research question for my title next time. 2. Stay under the word limit. Parent acknowledgment: Considerable time has been spent by student and teacher on this task with the goal of student improvement. Kindly glance through the comments on the task to gain an understanding of your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s progress with the skills we are developing. To help me convince your child of the importance of learning from our mistakes and successes, please encourage your child to give thoughtful comments above that show they have read the advice I have written on their work. Please contact me with comments or concerns about this assignment (Elizabeth_Renshaw@swa-jkt.com) Name of person at home who as seen this work: Geiby (Mom)